FRENCH SUCCESSES ALONG ENTIRE BATTLE-FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2499, 28 June 1915, Page 5

FRENCH SUCCESSES ALONG ENTIRE BATTLE-FRONT

PROGRESS BETWEEN ANGRES AND SOUCHEZ

PEACE CLAMOUR IN PRUSSIAN DIET

The High Commissioner reports:—

London, June 25, 5.25 p.m. "North of Arras the French attacked during the night between Angres and Souc'hez, and made further progress. "A German counter-attack at the Labyrinth was repulsed. A violent bombardment of French trenches followed, to which the French replied. "In Champagne, near Reims, and in the region of Perthes, the enemy yesterday and last night exploded two mine-chambers. They did not follow up with an infantry attack, or occupy the cavities, which were under the fire of the French trenches.

"In tho Argonne, at Vauqnois, there was mine fighting. "On the heights of the Mease, at the Calonne trench, the Germans violently attacked along the whole front; they accompanied tho attack with asphyxiating bombs and burning liquid, and after succeeding in petroling part of their old second lino they were throivn back by an energetic counter-attack. At midnight tho enemy again attempted the offensive and was caught by % cross-firo and dispersed with heavy losses. ''In Lorraine the enemy twice attempted to retake the lost positions at Leintrey, but was completely repulsed. "Li the Vosges, two German infantry attacks, directed after a violent bombardment of the French trenches at lieicharkerkopf, were checked by artillery and infantry. "A German aeroplane on Thursday threw five bombs on the sanatorium at, Zuydcoote. No damage was done, '

tendon, June 26, 5 p.m. "North of Arras there liave been infantry actions, accompanied by bombardments, between the sugar refinery at Souchez and the Nationale Road to Bethune.

"The progress of the French is impeded by the state of the ground at certaiii points, oiving to recent storms; in fact, progress is almost impracticable.

"In the Champaign and Argonne districts, mine fighting has resulted to the French advantage,"

London, June 27, 1.20 a.m. In the region north of Arras French gains have heen completely maintained. ....

"On the heights of the Meuse, at the East Calonne trench, the enemy began an attack which was repulsed, except at one point, where a portion of the trench was penetrated."

A GLORIOUS DEED IN FRENCH ANNALS

HOW THE VILLAGE OF METZERAL WAS TAKEN",

(Rco. June 27, 3 p.m.)

Paris, June 26. The capture of Metzeral (in Alsace) ranks as one of the most glorious deeds in the French arms. Tho enemy had transformed the village into a veritable fortress. The streets were barricaded, and there were overturned carts masking the machine-guns. Even the cemetery, which was the key to the village, liad been fortified, and its vaults mined. After a heavy shelling, the French launched an infantry attack on tho cemetery, the first objective. The Germans were driven out, blowing up the vaults, and began to withdraw from the villago, fighting every step. Every house had its quota of defenders. Our Alpine troops drovo tho Germans from the rooms to the cellars and from the cellars to the banis, and then rounded them up. The remainder surrendered.

ANOTHER FINE DEED BY THE CANADIANS

TNCIDENT OF THE BATTLE NEAR LA BASSEE.

(Bee. June 27, 3.25 p.m.) London, June 26.

Renter's correspondent, writing of the Canadian Division in action on June 15 and 17, near La Bassoe, says: "The First Ontario Regiment, with the Third Torontos in support, wore ordered to attack a sect-ion of the enemy's trenches, simultaneously with the British. After a cannonade, the Canadians, with a gallant bayonet chargc, in fifteen minutes ,had obtained full possession of the first line ot trenches. Then, alter a momentary pause, they went tearing along to the second line, which they carried in a. fiiw minutes. The third and fourth lines were carried similarly. "The Canadians were close at the heels of the fleeing. Germans, who had no time to rally. The victors then began to eon-olidate their position, when the Germans counter-attacked.- The Canadians' ammunition was running low, and all t-heir hand grenades had been exploded Amid a shower of shells mid grenades the Canadians had to abandon tho front line of their dearlvwon trenches in a partial retirement. Their losses were very heavy. "During the night tho Scoud Brigade relieved the Ontarians. who had demonstrated "that a wedge could he driven through the strongest. German lines. "On the night of June 16 the Germans heavily counter-attacked file second briendr., who more than evened up the score acainst_ the Ontarians. They waited fill the attack developed and then, nifh rapid rifle fire, wiped out the German in f antry. Few got back. "The Canadians' heavy losses were attributed to th=> over whelm 1112 rapidhf tli*ir msliiita it diflkuli (av tits wwp fc m Ae flankfc to Mtt« {c:ra M tWr n«w Una,''